Apple tree named ‘RDS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apple tree  Malus domestica  named ‘RDS’.‘RDS’ is a spontaneous limb mutation of the variety ‘Cripps Red’ and is distinguished by its early color development, a reddish brown current season wood growth on the sunny side, and a high level of red anthocyanin on the back of the leaf petiole and on young fruitlets. It is further distinguished by its strong bloom on fruit at maturity, a very dark intensity purple red hue of overcolor and a narrow stripe with solid flush having weakly defined stripes overcolor.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: The new apple tree variety denomination is ‘RDS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention is a new and distinct cultivar of apple tree botanically known as Malus domestica and referred to by the cultivar name ‘RDS’. ‘RDS’ was discovered as a spontaneous limb mutation in a commercial orchard of the variety ‘Cripps Red’ (also known as ‘Cripps-Two’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,477)).

‘RDS’ was first observed in 2013 in Lenswood, South Australia, Australia, where it was distinguished by its dark purple red fruit color. ‘RDS’ is further distinguished from its parent by its early color development: reddish brown current season wood growth on the sunny side with a high level of red anthocyanin on the back of the leaf petiole and a high level of red anthocyanin on young fruitlets. It is further distinguished by a strong bloom on fruit at maturity, a very dark intensity purple red hue overcolor, and a narrow stripe with solid flush overcolor. Asexual reproduction of ‘RDS’ was carried out by bud grafting in 2014 and trees of ‘RDS’ were planted for additional observation at Lenswood, South Australia, Australia. ‘RDS’ has since been fruited through successive asexually propagated generations at Lenswood, South Australia and has been observed to remain true to type with the distinguishing characteristics retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘RDS’ is primarily distinguished by its dark purple red fruit color. ‘RDS’ is also distinguished from its parent by its early color development: a reddish brown current season wood growth on the sunny side, a high level of red anthocyanin on the back of the leaf petiole, and a high level of red anthocyanin on young fruitlets. ‘RDS’ also exhibits a strong bloom on fruit at maturity, a very dark intensity purple red hue overcolor and a narrow stripe with solid flush having weakly defined stripes overcolor. These and other distinguishing characteristics are set forth in the tables below. Under similar growing conditions in Tasmania, Australia, under commercial practice, ‘RDS’ is distinguishable from its parent ‘Cripps Red’ as described in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘RDS’ to ‘Cripps Red’ (also known as ‘Cripps-Two’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,477)) Characteristic ‘Cripps Red’ ‘RDS’ Fruit: Relative Area of Medium to Large Very Large Overcolor Fruit: Hue of Overcolor Red-purple 60A Red-purple 59A with Bloom removed Fruit: Intensity of Light to Medium Dark Overcolor Fruit: Width of Stripes Medium to broad Very narrow to Narrow Young Fruit: Extent of Very small to small - Large - 61% on Anthocyanin Over color 21% on average of average of fruitlet fruitlet covered with covered with Anthocyanin Anthocyanin Petiole: Extent of Small - 4.40 mm on Large - 21.90 mm Anthocyanin coloration average on average from base 1 Year Old Shoot: Medium-brown Reddish-brown Sun Exposed Side Color 165B 181A 1 Year Old Shoot: Medium - 95 on Very few to few - Number of Lenticels average per 100 78 on average per mm of stem 100 mm of stem

‘RDS’ is also distinguishable from similar well-known commercial variety ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880) as described in Table 2 below. Under similar growing conditions in Tasmania, Australia, under commercial practice, ‘RDS’ is primarily distinguished from ‘Cripps Pink’ by its dark purple red fruit color, particularly its very large and dark intensity of overcolor, and the heavy extent of bloom on the mature fruit surface. ‘RDS’ is also distinguished from ‘Cripps Pink’ by its large extent of petiole anthocyanin compared to ‘Cripps Pink’, its globose fruit shape and its later time for harvest. These and other distinguishing characteristics are set forth in the table below.

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘RDS’ to ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880) Characteristic ‘Cripps Pink’ ‘RDS’ One-year-old shoot on Light-Brown Reddish-Brown Sunny Side 174A 181A Petiole Anthocyanin Small Very Large Young Fruit Anthocyanin Absent/Small Medium Fruit - Area of Overcolor Small Very Large Fruit - Intensity of Overcolor Light Dark Fruit - Extent of Bloom on Absent to Very Present and Mature Fruit Surface Light if any Heavy Bloom Fruit - Time for Harvest Late Very Late Fruit - Width of Stripes Medium Very Narrow to Narrow Fruit - Shape Cylindrical Globose One-Year-Old Shoot - 140 average per 78 average per Number of Lenticels 100 mm of stem - 100 mm of stem - Many Medium Tree - Habit Growth Pattern Upright Spreading of Branches

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Typical specimens of the tree and blossoms for the new apple tree variety ‘RDS’ of a 3-year-old tree planted on ‘MM106’ rootstock (not patented) are shown in the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 shows current season's fresh fruit of ‘RDS’ harvested at maturity;

FIG. 2 shows current season's fresh fruit of ‘RDS’ (on the left) compared to fruit of ‘Cripps Red’ (on the right), both harvested at maturity from trees of similar age and growing conditions;

FIG. 3 shows the parent tree ‘Cripps Red’ and early color development of ‘RDS’ limb sport;

FIG. 4 shows the under-side of leaves of a 3-year-old current season's shoot of ‘RDS’ in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock;

FIG. 5 shows the upper-side of leaves of a 3-year-old current season's shoot of ‘RDS’ in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock;

FIG. 6 shows a blossom of ‘RDS’ on an ‘RDS’ tree in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock; and,

FIG. 7 shows the fruit of ‘RDS’ on an ‘RDS’ tree in its third growing season on ‘MM106’ rootstock.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observations made during the third growing season at Lucaston, Tasmania, Australia of 3-year-old trees planted on ‘MM106’ rootstock (not patented). The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. The plant and flower quantified measurements and foliage size are expressed as an average of measurements taken from several individual plants of ‘RDS’ using standard commercial cultural practices. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of ‘RDS’ may vary from the stated average. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (5^(TH) edition 2007).

-   Tree:     -   -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Type.—Ramified — Bearing on Spurs and Long Shoots.         -   Habit.—Spreading.         -   Height.—3.6 m.         -   Trunk diameter.—45 mm at 100 mm above the graft.         -   Bark texture.—Smooth.         -   Bark color.—Reddish-brown 181A on sunny side.         -   Branch.—Fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the             graft union.         -   Length.—1.5 m average.         -   Diameter.—18 mm at base.         -   Crotch angle.—Branches on unpruned tree are horizontal.         -   Bark color.—Reddish-brown 181A on sun exposed side.         -   Lenticel length.—0.8 mm to 1.2 mm Average is 1 mm.         -   Lenticel color.—Orange-white 159A.         -   Quantity of lenticels per cm ².—3 to 7 per cm². -   One year old shoot:     -   -   Length.—205 mm average.         -   Color.—Reddish-brown 181A.         -   Pubescence.—Weak.         -   Thickness.—6.5 mm average.         -   Internode length.—13.3 mm average.         -   Number of lenticels per cm ².—4 to 8 per cm² on average. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—5.1 mm on average.         -   Color.—Greyed-purple N186C.         -   Shape.—Ovoid. -   Flowers:     -   -   Diameter of fully open flower.—36 mm on average.         -   Relative position of petal margin.—Touching to occasionally             free.         -   Quantity of flowers per cluster.—5 to 7.         -   Date of beginning of flowering.—24^(th) of September in             Tasmania.         -   Date of full bloom.—30^(th) of September in Tasmania.         -   Pollination requirement.—Pollination required by another             diploid variety flowering at similar time. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Ovate to ellipsoid.         -   Length.—23 mm.         -   Width.—15.8 mm.         -   Apex.—Ovoid.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Texture.—Upper surface — Smooth.         -   Texture.—Lower surface — Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface — Red-purple RHS 64D.         -   Color.—Lower surface — Red-purple RHS 63C.         -   Pistils.—7.7 mm long; Yellow-green RHS 144C Color.         -   Stigma.—0.5 mm diameter; Yellow-green RHS 144C Color.         -   Position of stigma relative to anther.—Same level.         -   Style.—5 fused at base; Length 6.25 mm; Color 145C             Yellow-green; Pubescent at base.         -   Ovary.—Pubescent; 1.51 mm average diameter; Color             Yellow-green 144C.         -   Anthers.—19 mm average per flower; Length 2.3 mm; Width 1.9             mm; Ample pollen quantity, Color Yellow 10C.         -   Pedicel.—Length 16.5 mm average; Diameter 1.5 mm; Color:             187C Grey-purple on sun exposed side; 144B Yellow-green on             shaded side.         -   Sepals.—Quantity 5; Length 5.8 mm average; Width 4.1 mm             average; Color: 59B Red-purple at base with 144B             Yellow-green from base to tip with smooth straight margin             and pubescent.         -   Flower fragrance.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Length.—113 mm average.         -   Width.—70 mm average.         -   Length/width ratio.—1.6:1.         -   Blade margin.—Serrate Type 1.         -   Shape.—Oval to obtuse.         -   Apex.—Acute in shape.         -   Base.—Obtuse in shape.         -   Pubescence.—Not pubescent on underside or upper side.         -   Color.—Upper surface — Green N137D.         -   Color.—Lower surface — Green N146B.         -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Outward.         -   Petiole.—Length 39.5 mm average; Diameter 2.5 mm average;             Color: Grey-purple 184A.         -   Mid rib.—Greyed-purple 184A to Yellow-green 145A.         -   Leaf vein.—Extending from base of mid rib Greyed-purple 184A             to leaf tip Yellow-green 145A.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate from mid rib to Reticulate with             smaller veins. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per cluster.—5 to 7 per cluster if no thinning             occurs.         -   Diameter.—76.5 mm average.         -   Height.—69.3 mm average.         -   Ratio of height to width.—About 1:0.91.         -   General shape in profile.—Globose.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Near center.         -   Ribbing.—Moderate.         -   Crowning at calyx end.—Absent or weak.         -   Size of eye.—9.6 mm average.         -   Aperture of eye.—Mostly closed, occasionally open.         -   Length of sepal.—5.2 mm average length.         -   Bloom of skin.—Moderate to strong.         -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent or weak.         -   Background color of skin.—Yellow-green 154D.         -   Amount of over color.—Very large.         -   Over color of skin.—Red-purple 59A.         -   Intensity of over color.—Dark.         -   Pattern of over color.—Solid Flush with weakly defined             stripes.         -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Medium to low.         -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent.         -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.         -   Length of stalk.—24.5 mm average.         -   Thickness of stalk.—2.1 mm average.         -   Stalk color.—Greyed-orange 165B.         -   Depth of stalk cavity.—12.1 mm average.         -   Width of stalk cavity.—30.9 mm average.         -   Depth of eye basin.—5.2 mm average.         -   Width of eye basin.—29.1 mm average.         -   Flesh color.—White 155A.         -   Firmness of flesh.—8.3 kg, Firm.         -   Flesh texture.—Firm and crisp.         -   Aroma.—Fresh.         -   Juiciness.—Ample.         -   Total soluble solids.—15° Brix.         -   Seeds.—Minimum of 1, mostly 2 per cell; 8 per fruit; Acute;             Greyed-orange 166B; Aperture of locules closed or slightly             open. -   Harvest:     -   -   Harvest date.—Time of Eating Maturity — Mid to Late season,             Apr. 26, 2018 in Tasmania, Australia.         -   Number of picks.—One.         -   Yield.—21 kg from typical three-year-old tree.         -   Average fruit weight.—189.5 grams.         -   Disease/insect resistance/susceptibility.—No             resistance/susceptibility noted. Winter hardiness, cold             tolerance, drought, and heat tolerance are similar to parent             variety. The fruit coloration is retained in warmer             environments. -   Market use: Fresh. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as described and illustrated herein. 